"What a big, lively gold carp!"
When Xu Qing left Tongyue Tavern, the fish seller nicknamed Eagle's Beak should have already left the market by now, but as he exited, he discovered the man still loitering around the nearby streets.
Looking at his fish basket, Eagle's Beak deliberately lifted the lid, letting his long arms and legs dangle it low so people around could see the few large gold carps he had caught inside.
With the river nearby and many people fishing, Eagle's Beak had only to circle the streets a few times before several people came up to inquire.
"Eagle's Beak, that's quite the haul of gold carp! Where did you find this prime fishing spot? We're all old friends here, don't keep it to yourself, or you'll come off as unsociable."
The one asking was a well-off dandy, holding a fish basket made of ivory split-thread weaving, with the rim inlaid with Hetian green jade, shaped like two fish holding a pearl; the fish even had engravings that read: 'Abounding Blessings.'